"This is Thailand" is the riveting real-life account of Marek Lenarcik's blind leap from the safe, comfortable and utterly bullshit, corporate world of Dublin to the charming, exotic beaches of Thailand. With rose-tinted glasses firmly in place, Marek fully expects to find a land of exotic fruits, beautiful women and an easy-going tropical lifestyle. Which he does. At first. Traveling from Phuket to Bangkok and throughout Thailand's exotic locales, Marek's desire to experience all the forbidden fruits Thailand has to offer leads him to Piam, a gorgeous, kind, independent Thai girl who, he is convinced, might well be the one. But as he immerses himself deeper into this strange country, replete with often inexplicable thought-patterns, worldviews and customs, Marek begins to discover a much darker, more complex side to the Land of Smiles and its inhabitants. Soon, Piam begins to reveal her true colours. It soon dawns on him that, despite his best intentions (most of the time), he has been ensnared -- as have many men before him -- by the dreaded Honey Trap. The stormy relationship that ensues provides a fascinating backdrop to the insights into Thailand's unique culture that stem from Marek's efforts to come to terms with the reality of the country and the people who call it home.

In the colorful tradition of Orwell and Hemingway, Jerry Hopkins recalls his first decade as a Bangkok expatriate by profiling twenty-five of the city's most unforgettable characters. In 25 vivid profiles, Hopkins explores what motivates people to leave home and the unforeseen adventures that can befall them once abroad. Hopkin's knack for the biography is evident in his coverage of individuals ranging from famous performers to ordinary businesspeople. The 25 true stories include the lives of: The Real Colonel Kurtz? --An American soldier who allegedly was the model for Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. The Oscar Winner --An acclaimed screenwriter who moves to the city of Bangkok to die. Urban Gorilla Priest --A Catholic priest who founded Mercy Centre in one of the city's harshest slums. The Odd Couple -- A circus clown turned computer programmer turned restaurateur. Professor Elephant-- A documentary filmmaker living with elephants. All of these individuals "escaped" to Thailand to re-invent themselves and live out their fantasies in one of the world's most notorious cities. Bangkok Babylon shares their exciting true stories, many of which are stranger than fiction.

Collection of articles on difficulties and hardships faced by Thai villagers and suggestions about how to tackle them; previously published in Bangkok post, 1988-1990.

examines Thai-Chinese relations, dating back to the first Thai dynasty (Sukhothai) to the present (Ratanakosin). The study explores the Thai domestic policies that have affected the Chinese population since World War II and assimilation policies of the Thai government towards the Chinese. This book also analyzes both Skinner's and Chan and Tong's arguments, and their main idea in the context of the present day environment and situation for the ethnic Chinese. This research supports the Skinnerian paradigm, which asserts that "a majority of the descendants of Chinese immigrants in each generation merge with Thai society and become indistinguishable from the indigenous population to the extent that fourth-generation Chinese are practically non-existent." The validation of the Skinnerian paradigm rejects Chan and Tong's hypothesis, which claims that Skinner has "overemphasized the forces of assimilation" and that the Chinese in Thailand have not assimilated but retained their Chinese identity. To support Skinner's assertion and reject Chan and Tong's argument, this book presents rich empirical data collected via surveys conducted with the ethnic Chinese in Thailand from 2003-2004. This study uncovers that the forces of assimilation occur at two levels. On the first level, the Chinese in Thailand possess natural attributes which facilitate social and cultural integration and assimilation into Thai society. On the second level, government pro-assimilation policies, driven by the bilateral relations between Thailand and China and the political situation in both countries, are also responsible for the assimilation of the Chinese in Thailand. As the most current in-depth study on the Chinese in Thailand, The Chinese Émigrés of Thailand in the Twentieth Century is a critical addition for all collections in Asian Studies as well as Ethnic and Immigrant Studies.

Lonely Planet: The world’s number one travel guide publisher* Lonely Planet’s Thailand is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Learn to cook authentic Thai dishes in Chiang Mai, rock-climb the limestone karsts (or watch from the sugar-white beaches) of Railay, and trek through dense jungle and stay in tree-top bungalows in Kanchanaburi – all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Thailand and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet’s Thailand: Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights provide a richer, more rewarding travel experience - covering history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Covers Bangkok, Central Thailand, Ko Chang, Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand, Hua Hin, Southern Gulf, Ko Samui, Lower Gulf, Phuket, Andaman Coast The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet’s Thailand is our most comprehensive guide to Thailand, and is perfect for discovering both popular and offbeat experiences. Looking for just the highlights? Check out Pocket Bangkok and Pocket Phuket, our handy-sized guides featuring the best sights and experiences for a short visit. Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet’s Thailand’s Islands & Beaches and Bangkok guides for an in-depth look at all these regions have to offer. eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones) Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations’ websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world’s number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we’ve printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You’ll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, nine international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more. TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 winner in Favorite Travel Guide category ‘Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.’ – New York Times ‘Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.’ – Fairfax Media (Australia) *Source: Nielsen BookScan: Australia, UK, USA, 5/2016-4/2017 Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.

All About Thailand is a new Thai book for kids ages 8 to 12 which brings you on an incredible journey to exotic Thailand. Thailand is a place where a modern culture thrives in one of the world's most ancient countries. Your guides in this adventure are two Thai children: Mali is a 9-year-old girl from the countryside and Tawan is an 11-year old boy from Bangkok. Travel with them as they explore their land--experienced its fascinating wildlife, beautiful handcrafts, sports, games, celebrations and, of course--great Thai food! They'll give you a glimpse of what it's really like to live in Thailand and they'll show you all the things that kids in Thailand love to do. With this Thai culture and history-for-kids book readers will: Visit with elephants and monkeys Learn new fun and challenging games Share Thai myth, fairy tales and fables Get a taste of the Thai language and learn a song or two Make things that let you experience Thailand's beliefs, celebrations and culture Experience the unique flavors of Thailand with a few easy, yummy recipes And lots more! Along with fun facts, you'll learn about the spirit of the Thailand that makes this country and its people totally unique. This is a book for parents and kids to enjoy together!

This book help the reader better understand Thai society as a whole and not to belittle anyone or any social norms of any culture.It also highlights those aspects of Thai culture and general situations that one is likely to encounter. It should prove useful to all new visitors who are not really conversant with the plurality of Thai society.